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I am new to this forum and I have not yet been diagnosed, However I have had three episodes of acute optic neuritis in the last year. Twice in the left ey and now in the right. Each tim I have been treated with 3 days of IV steroids but each time my MRIs have come back normal. other then the ON I have had no other pronounced signs of MS. Has anyone here experienced this prior to there diagnosis. I appreciate any input and wish all of you the best of luck.

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What other diagnostic tests have you had? For example, have you had a spinal tap to look for immune system proteins and white blood cells in the spinal fluid? When I was diagnosed, I had optic neuritis as well. In addition to the spinal tap & MRI, I also had several blood tests and a genetic analysis performed.

I had ON exclusively also for about two years. Then the other stuff started happening. That's not to say that will be your course. I also had "unremarkable" MRI's at first. They diagnosed me via spinal tap and visual evoked potential tests.

@newbie: I was diagnosed after my first symptoms with MRI, spinal tap, evoked potentials etc. My MRI was not very "dramatic" but my cerebrospinal fluid was typical for MS.

OFFTOPIC:
@NHE: What kind of genetic analysis was made? HLA-Type? I'm sorry if the question sounds stupid but a genetic analysis is not common here in Germany for MS diagnosis. I'm interested because my sister has MS, too.

I was diagnosed after my first ON attack. I went to the Dr then in the hospital for 1 week as well as an MRI and within 1 day of MRI they confirmed it was MS. Hopefully you do not have MS, but just have ON. Have your Dr's givin you any information as to what next?

There have been a couple of people I have known over the years that had ON, but it never materialized into MS.

There are only a small percentage of people diagnosed with ON that develop MS, and it is not something I would worry about until more symptoms developed. Do take care of your eyes though and go to a specialist every time that you have eye problems.

Let me first start by saying thank you all so much for responding so quickly. I have not had any test except for the MRI. I was just reffered to by my neurologist to another neurologist. but I cant get an appt until Oct!! I ask to be reffered to a opto-neurologist my DR. said that wouldnt be necessary. Is it standard to see an opto- neuro. Can some one please tell me what a VEP is I have seen that alot on this board. Also what kind of blood test or genetic analysis should be done? Thaks again

I got diagnosed by an optho-neuro. A VEP is a visual evoked potential. They hook a bunch of probes up to you and see how fast a visual signal makes is to your brain stem as well as nerve stimulation in your extremities. They are looking to see if the signals are being slowed down.

Sandrine wrote:@NHE: What kind of genetic analysis was made? HLA-Type? I'm sorry if the question sounds stupid but a genetic analysis is not common here in Germany for MS diagnosis. I'm interested because my sister has MS, too.

I don't really remember. All I can say for certain at this point is that the words "genetic analysis" appeared on the Explanation Of Benefits paperwork from my insurance company after my hospital stay from my initial diagnosis. I had my doctor give me print outs of all of my test results. I'll have to dig through my files and see if I can find anything that provides further insight into the type of genetic analysis that was performed.

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